Sabres Steve Ott reminds shoppers not to text and drive during 'It Can Wait' event

by jmaloni

Submitted

Wed, Jan 15th 2014 01:00 pm

Buffalo Sabres captain Steve Ott.

Ott to appear at AT&T retail location in Walden
Galleria Mall

Buffalo Sabres captain Steve Ott will make a
special visit to the AT&T retail store in the Walden Galleria Mall at 1
p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, to sign autographs and, more importantly, spread the
message about the dangers of texting and driving, as part of the national public
education program "It Can Wait." Ott was recently featured in an "It Can Wait" video, which is available
on YouTube and shown at all Sabres' home games.

At the AT&T location, Ott will encourage
shoppers, especially younger drivers, to make the commitment to never text and
drive again, and to promote a special pledge drive set up by the Buffalo Sabres
and AT&T (www.whyipledge.com/buffalo).

The Buffalo Sabres-AT&T pledge drive began
in December and runs until Jan. 31. The high school with
the most pledges will receive a visit from Ott at their school. Additionally,
the school's hockey team will receive a practice/coaching session with Ott at
First Niagara Center. Students, parents, friends and members of the community
can take the pledge for their favorite high school once a day until the drive
ends. For a list of participating schools, visit www.whyipledge.com/buffalo.

The National Safety Council reports texting and
driving is involved in more than 200,000 vehicle crashes each year. In an
AT&T-commissioned poll, 97 percent of teens surveyed said texting while
driving is dangerous - but 75 percent said it is "common among their friends."
Adults tell kids not to text while driving, but according to 77 percent of
teens, adults do it "all the time."